Arugula, Apple and Fennel Salad with Toasted Pepitas

When summer meets fall you have to make this Arugula, Apple and Fennel Salad with toasted pumpkin seeds, feta and avocado, dressed in the best balsamic vinaigrette. The spicy arugula pairs well with the sweet apples, creamy cheese and avocado, with the unique bite of fennel in every bite!

Gluten Free, Nut Free, Grain Free, Soy Free

As soon as September rolls around I’m ready for fall recipes galore… but mother nature has another idea! With temperatures still in the 80s and the humidity off the charts this year, I’m still in full-on salad mode.

And as much as I love a fall salad with roasted butternut squash or sweet potatoes, I try to avoid turning on the oven as much as possible.

This Arugula, Apple and Fennel Salad will be on repeat this fall! It’s…

• A medley of flavors
• Easy to throw together
• Filling
• Satisfying
• Delicious!

Years ago, I never would’ve been able to make and eat a salad that contains 4 types of fats.

But our bodies need fat. In fact, it’s the most filling macronutrient because it’s digested the slowest. Even better, eating fats with veggies helps you better absorb fat-soluble nutrients, like vitamin K in your greens.

More often than not, we want to choose heart-healthy fats. Those are the fats that are rich in monounsaturated fats, like olive oil (in the dressing), avocado, nuts and seeds. Sure, this salad also contains some cheese, which is higher in saturated fat, but it all balances itself out!

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Arugula, Apple and Fennel Salad

As a recipe blogger I always find salads to be strange recipes to share because they’re just a collection of ingredients you decide to throw together. Everyone can have their own interpretation of what goes in a salad.

So this is my early fall medley that is delicious! You’ll need:

1. Arugula
2. Apples
3. Fennel
4. Shredded Carrots
5. Pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
6. Avocado
7. Feta Cheese
8. Balsamic Vinaigrette

While it’s quite basic and nothing fancy in there, I’m telling you the combination of the spicy arugula with the sweet and crunchy apples, licorice-y fennel, creamy avocado and tangy feta, plus earthy pepitas is so good!

How to Make This Apple and Fennel Salad

This is such an easy recipe to make. It’s easy enough to make for a weekday lunch, but it’s also pretty and fancy enough to serve when entertaining.

First, you’ll toast the pepitas. Sure, you can skip this step, but it gives them an even deeper earthy flavor. Sprinkle with salt, if you have unsalted pepitas too! You can skip this step if you’re using roasted and salted pepitas, like these.

Next, if you don’t have a batch of my very best balsamic vinaigrette in your fridge, make a batch! Double the recipe to use throughout the week!

Finally, you’ll assemble the salad. Simply toss together the arugula, fennel, apples, shredded carrots, feta, avocado and pepitas with the dressing.

How to Make This Salad in Advance

If you want to make this salad in advance, you can toss together all of the ingredients, but wait to dress the salad until just prior to serving! Arugula is a delicate green and can easily get soggy if it stays dressed for too long before serving.

Want to learn how to turn this salad into a balanced meal? Get your copy of the Binge to Balanced Guidebook!

Other Fall Salads to Try:

• Spinach & Lentil Salad
• Black Lentil & Root Veggie Salad
• Broccoli and Apple Salad

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need to Make This Recipe:

• Mixing Bowl
• Frying Pan
• Mandolin

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Don’t Forget to PIN this delicious Apple and Fennel Salad

XO